Electric switch



July 31, 1928.

H. E. NORVIEL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 14, 19225v atten www Patented July 31, 192.8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. NORVIEL, OE ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led April 14, 1925. Serial No. 22,977.

This invention relates to electrical switches which are adapted particularly for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits oi' an automotive vehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch which is durable and reliable and can be manufactured at relatively low cost. A further object is to provide aswitch havinga single lever, by means of which both 1o the lighting and ignition circuits can be controlled.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention willl be apparent from the following description, reference being hady l5 to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch embody- 2o ing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View;

Fig. 3 is a back .view of the switch and a wiring diagram showing various electrical circuits controlled by the switch;

F iO's. 4 and 5 are sectioanl views taken respectively on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig- 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and v Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

The switch includes a mounting bracket 2() which is generally circular in form and is provided with ears 21 each having a hole 35 22 for receiving a screw 23'for attaching the bracket to a suitable support 24, such as the instrument board of an automobile. The bracket is provided with arcuate anges 25 located `between the ears 21 and each flange 25 is -provided with an arcuate flange 26 at right angles thereto. The three flanges 26 bear against the back of the instrument board 24 when the bracket is secured in position. The bracket 20 is provided with a plurality of openings 27 for receiving the tangs 28 and 29, with which the bezel ring 30 and the dial plate 31, respectively, are provided. A disc 32 of softpaper, such as blotting paper, is located between the bracket and the dial 31. A glass dial cover 33 is located between the annular flange 340i the bezel ring 30 and the dial 31. Whenthe lingers 28 and 29 are crimped over against the back of the bracket 20, the bef/.el ring 65 30, the glass cover 33, the dial 3l and the paper disc are clamped in position. The dial 1s. provided with an annular bead 35 and with a central annular boss 36. The

bead and the boss portions only engage the glass 33 so that the letters which are engraved, stamped or printed uponv the dial will be spaced from the back of the glass. The paper disc 32 is somewhat resilient so as to allow for variations in thickness of the glass cover 33. It is desirable that the dial boss 36 and dial bead 35 be in close contact with the glass 33 so as to exclude dirt and moisture from between the glass and dial.

The bracket 20 carries a' bushing 4() providing a bearing for a switch shaft 41 provided with a handle 42. Rivets 43 and 44 unite the bracket 20 with a cup-shaped switch case.45 having a central opening 1n the closed side thereof, which is surrounded by an annular flange 46 which provides an additional bearing for the shaft 41. The shaft 41 is connected with a switch-contact driving plate 47 by means of fingers 48 which project from the plate toward the shaft 41 and are received by notches 49 provided in the shaft. (See Fig. 7.) The driving plate 47 is provided with arcuate ianges 50, each having a tang 51 received by a notch 52 provided by a circular mova le contact support 53.\ The arcuate flanges 50, therefore, maintain the driving plate 47 and the movable contact support 53 in spaced relation while the tangs 51 provide driving connections between the plate 47 and the support 53. The plate 47 is maintained in driving relation with the shaft 41 by a screw 54 which engages a central tapped hole in the shaft 41. l

The contact support 53 carries contact fingers 55, 56, l57 and 58, which are electrically connected, and fingers 60 and 61, which are electrically connected, but are insulated from the other contact fingers mentioned, the support 53 being constructed of nonconducting material. The support .53 1s yieldingly retained in different circuit-controlling positions by a ratchet plate Awhich is generally circular in shape and 1s providedwith notches 63 for receiving the circular flanges. 50 of the driving plate 47. The plate 62 is provided with three hemispherical bosses 64 which are adapted to be received by certain ones of a circular row of holes 65 provided in the switch case 45.' In order to provide clearance for the bosses 64,

' switch ca5e45 by a spring 68 which surrounds the head 69 of the screw 54 and is retained, as shown in Fig. 2, by a cupped washer 70 which in turn is retained by arms 71 formed preferably integrally,with the head 69. The arms 71 are yieldingly retained between two ridges 72 which are formed in the washer 70. The Washer 70 is provided with a suitable central opening so that it may be passed over the head of the bolt 69. To remove the washer 70, it is pushed toward the shaft 41 so that the ridges 72 will be released from the arms 71 and then be turned 90o in order to bring the notches 73 which extend from the central opening of the washer, into alignment with the arms 71. Then the washer 70 may be removed from the head 69 of the screw 54.

The switch back or stationary contactcarrying member comprises two discs and 81 of non-conducting material, which are secured to the switch case 45 by providing the discs with notches 82 for receiving the iingers 83 extending from the edge of the circular switch case 45. These fingers are bent over as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, against the outer surface of the disc 81. The disc 80 is provided with two kidney-shaped apertures to receive similarly-shaped switch contacts 84 and 85, which are secured respectively by rivets 86 and 87 to conductors 88 and 89, respectively. The contacts 84 and 85 are used in controlling the ignition circuit. The stationary contacts for (controlling the lighting circuits are indicated by the dotted-line circles 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 and 98, in Fig. 3, and correspondingly numbered dash-and-dot line circles in Fig. 4. The contacts 90 to 98 are provided by the heads of'certain rivets which clamp together the switch back plates 80 and 81 and are connected with certain switch terminal conductors.- As clearly shown in Fig. 3, contacts 90n and 91 are both connected with a terminal 99, contacts 92, 93 and 94 are connected with conducto`r 100, which is connected with a terminal 101; contact 95 is connected with a terminal 102; contact 96 with a terminal 103;.and contacts 97 and'98 with a terminal 104. 'The terminal 101 includes a bracket 105 carrying a fuse clip 106 for engaging the terminal 107 of a fuse 108, which has another terminal 109 engaged by a fuse clip 110 carried by theconducting terminal 89. (See Fig. 6.) Each terminal conductor is provided with a wire-attaching screw 111.

The switch is connected in` the lighting and ignition circuits of an automobile as shown in Fig. 3. The battery 112 is connected with the terminal 89. Terminal 113 of the ignition coil primary 114 is connected -of an electric horn 119, and its other terminal connected with a horn switch 120. Terminals 102 and 103 are connected by a dimmer resistance unit 121. Terminal 103 is connected with a head lamp 122. Terminal 104 is connected with a tail lamp 123.

lVhen the handle 42 stands in oliI position, the movable switch contact iingers will be located as shown in Fig. 4. The contacts which are at all times connected with the battery are 85, 92, 93 'and 94. Therefore, it will be observed by referring to Fig. 4, that none of these stationary contacts are engaged by the movable switch lingers. Therefore all of the lights and the ignition are oli'. The horn 119, however, is connected with the battery and may be operated by closing the switch 120.

For night parking the switch handle 42 is turned to curb or parking position. A 30 movement of the handle counterclockwise in Fig. 1 to the curb position will produce a 30O clockwise movement ot the movable switch contacts, as viewed in Fig. 95 4. This will cause fingers 57, 58 "and 55 to engage contacts 92, 91 and 98, respectively, thereby connecting the battery 112 with parking lamp 118 and tail lamp 123.

Any movement of the lever 42 clockwise 100 from the position shown in Fig. 1 will cause the fingers 60 and 61 to bridge contacts 84 and 85, thereby connecting the ignition apparatus with the battery. Then the lever 42 moved into the day position, the contacts 105 92, 93. and 94 will not be engaged by any of the movable contacts. Therefore, the lighting circuits will not be connected with the battery. When the lever 42 is moved into the bright position7 a 60 counterclock- 110 wise movement of the movable switch contacts will take place as viewed in Fig. 4. This will bring finger 58 into engagement with contact 98, finger 56 into engagement with contact 94, and linger 55 into engage- 115 ment with contact 96. Therefore, the battcry will be connected with the tail light 123 and with the head lamp 122, which will burn brightly. Movement of the lever 52 into the dim posit-ion will cause the contact 58 to move in engagement with contact 97 and connect the tail lamp 123 with the battery through the contact 56 which then engages the contact 93 which is connected with f the battery. At the same time, the contact 125 55 willgengage the contact 95, thereby causing the head lamp 122' to lbe connected with the battery through the dimmer resistance 121.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preerred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming wit-hin the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a flat wall, a rotatable switch contact located within the case, a contact driving member located between the iiat wall and the movable contact, a sidewise movable indexing plate located between the contact and driving member, said plate and wall having cooperating provisions for indexing the contact in various positions, a spring urging the index plate toward the fiat wall, and a shaft for operating the driving member and index plate.'

2. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a fiat wall, a rotatable switch Contact located within the case, a contact driving member located between the flat wall and the movable contact, a sidewise movable indexing plate located between the contact and driving member, said wall having a circular row of openings and said plate having projections adapted to be received within said openings for indexing the contact in various positions, a spring urging the index plate toward the flat wall, and a shaft for operating the driving member and index plate.

f 3. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a flat wall, a rotatable switch contact located within the case, a contact driving member located between the flat Wall and the movable contact, a sidewise movable indexing plate located between the contact and driving member, and operated by the driving member, said plate and walls having cooperating provisions for indexing the contact in various positions, a spring urging the index plate toward the at wall, and a shaft for operating the driving member and index plate.

4. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having an end wall provided with an opening, a handle connected with a shaft extending into said opening, a contact driving member located adjacent said end wall, a screw for attaching the driving member and shaft, a movable switch Contact connected with the driving member, an endwise movable indexing plate located between the driving member and movable contact,'a spring surrounding said screw for urging the index plate toward the end wall, and means carried by the screw for 'retaining the spring, said plate and end wall having c0- operating provisions for indexing the movable contact in various positions.

5. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a vcase having an end wall provided with a central opening surrounded by a circular row of holes, a handle operated shaft rotatable coaxially to said opening, a

contact driving member located adjacent said end wall and connected through said opening with said shaft, a movable switch contact operated by the driving member, an index plate having projections adapted to be received by the holes in said end wall, a spring urging the index plate toward the end wall, means connecting the driving member and index plate, and means for retaining the spring and for attaching the driving member to the shaft. v

6. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having parallel end walls, one of which carries stationary contacts, and the other has al central aperture, an operating shaft extending through said aperture, a metal plate connected with the shaft and rotatable within the case adjacent the apertured wall and having tangs extending from the outer edge of the plate toward the other end wall, a non-conducting plate connected through said tangs with the first plate and held by said tangs in spaced relation to said first plate, a movable Contact at- -tached to the non-conducting plate, an indexing plate located between the rst and second plates and driven through said tangs which are received by notches in the indexing plate, and a spring for urging the indexing plate. toward the apertured end wall of the case, said apertured end wall andthe index plate having (zo-operating locating provisions which are yieldingly maintained in engagement by said spring. l 7. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a wall supporting stationary contacts, a rotary contact for engaging the stationary contacts, a contact carrier, a contact driving member, means connecting the carrier and driver and spacing them, an indexing plate located between the. carrier and driver l"and movable axially of the rotary contact and drivingly connected with the driving member, a part provided by the case for engaging the indexing plate, a spring for urging the plate toward said part, said plate and part having cooperating locating provisions which are yieldingly maintained in engagement by said spring, and a handle for operating the contact driving member.

8. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a wall supporting stationary contacts, a rotary contact for engaging the stationary contacts, a contact carrier, a contact driving member, members extending from the driving member and longitudinally of the axis of the rotary contact for connecting the driving member with the rotary contact, an indexing plate movable axially of the rotary contact and drivingly connected with the members which connect the driving member and rotary conl tact, a part provided by the case for engaging the indexing plate, a spring for urging the plate toward said part, said plate and part having cooperating locating provisions which are yieldingly maintained in engagement by said spring, and a handle for operating the contact driving member.

9. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a wall supporting` 'stationary contacts, a rotary contact for engaging the l'stationary contacts, a contact carrier, a contact driving member, members extending from the driving member and longitudinally of the axis of the rotary contact for connecting the driving member with the rotary contact, an indexing plate movable axially of the rotary contact and drivingly connected with the members which connect the driving member and rotary contact, a part provided by the case for engaging the indexing plate, a helical coil spring for urging the plate toward said part, said plate and part having cooperating locating rovisions which are yieldingly maintained 1n engagement. by said spring, a shaft for operating the contact driving member, a screw attached to an end of the shaft and passing through the spring and indexing plate, and means on the end of the screw for retaining the spring.

10. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a case having a Wall supporting stationary contacts, a rotary contact for engaging the stationary contacts, a contact carrier, acontact driving member,I means connecting the carrier and driving' member and spacing them, an indexing plate located between the carrier and driving member and drivingly connected with the driving member, a part provided by the case for engaging the indexing plate, a helical coil spring for urging the plate toward said part, sai plate and part having cooperating locating provisions which are yieldingly maintained in engagement. by said spring, a shaft for operating the contact driving member, a screnT attached to an end of the shaft and passing through the spring and indexing plate, and means on the end of the screw for retaining the spring.

11. A switch according to claim 10 in which the means for retaining the spring comprises a washer for surrounding the head of the screw and for bearing against one end of the spring, said Washer being retained by lugs extending laterally from the head bf the screw and received by lateral grooves in the washer, the spring pressing the Washer against the lugs so that the lugs are yieldingly maintained in the lateral grooves, said washer having its screw-receiving aperture so shaped as to permit removing thewasher from the screw after turning the washer from' the position in4 which the grooves of the washer receive the lugs of the screw.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

